I've always loved the traditional looking german shepherds and keep telling myself that one of these days I'll have one in my backyard BUT I don't really know much about those lines since I only researched what I own (czech).  I'd like to familiarize myself with the West German dogs to make sure it's what I want as a package not just the "look". 

Those of you that own the W. Germ working lines and or the W. Germ showlines could you tell me the differences?  I've heard the W. Germ dogs have more trouble with their hips.  Is there any fact to this?  I don't want to get into a debate on the showlines and working lines because my questions aren't so much geared towards which one "works" better than the other.  Having a Czech dog currently, I wondered if I bought a W. Germ dog what the differences in the 2 would be other than the obvious physical appearances? 

Would it be acceptable to breed a W. Germ workingline to a Czech dog?  What about a W. Germ showline to a Czech dog?  Here's what I have been told; just wondered if anyone else feels this information was accurate or not...I was told some showline folks are breeding to workinglines but you have to really really know what you're doing if this is the path you choose to go down because if not done right the pups will mature to be one hot mess. lol 

Can someone post a picture of a well known W Germ working line and a well known W. Germ showline for me to see the differences?

I'd appreciate the input.

Here is a picture of Deans' new dog Verdi.  He is an excelent example of a west german working dog w/ "v" conformation rating:

V Verdi von Karthago

This is an example of a very gorgeous west german showline dog:

VA4 (I) Flipp von Arlett

Sue- thanks for posting the pic.  Do you have a show line pic?

LOL Sue you must have been reading my mind while I was typing.  Thanks

nice sue,  ive seen verdi in person, he is a very nice dog all around.

what i would like to see is a working line dog doing protection vs. a showline dog doing protection.

john

My girl, 8, is WG showlines/working lines.  Her sire was from Hungary but all showlines and also a K9.  He was a hard dog to beat.  As for her, she is a hard, dominant dog--definately not for the first timer.  A lot of people see her and they want one just like her and I am like no, you don't.  She works hard at working you which means you have to be on your toes to get the best out of her.  I don't know about all mixes of the two lines but I know about her.  Out of a litter of 6, 2 turned out to be working K9's, one went into as K9 breeding program, 2 as PPDs and then Sadie.  She has a CGC, BH, Herding Instinct Certified and 2 legs toward a CD.  (low scores)  She also has unilateral HD in her right hip.  Out of the litter 3 OFA'd Good and the other 2 weren't done.  I did her hips but never sent them in............

By the way her bitework was GREAT.  It's like the first time she saw a sleeve she knew what to do.

"what i would like to see is a working line dog doing protection vs. a showline dog doing protection." (john)

I would like to see that too.  I hope someone comes to our aide & posts links for us so we can compare.

-sue

West German dogs don't have any more problems with hips overall than any other group - sheesh!!!!!

look at pedigrees of individuals to see hip family ratings, yes, there are tons of dogs linebred on NZ dogs, so sure, THERE is wehre you can get "more" bad hips - it is not the group it is the way people breed within the group

Yes, a few long established breeders mix types occasionally  in Germany.  They know the individuals they are using to bring into their program and they keep females for themself - for long term goals of hoping to improve or add some charactreistic.  Breeding and mixing types here is just BYB stuff to sell more pups because hardly anyone in the US has a real program spanning generations of homebred dogs except a few showline breeders - and they still bring in outside males alot!  And too many litters are just random because people just like their own dogs whether they are breedworthy or not.  You hardly ever see a working line breeder bringing in showlines.  Yes, they will breed with a dog wth good conformation who has some show a few generations back.  But intentionally for competition? NOPE.  But hey, this is America, a free country - so do what ever your heart desires! Breed fathers and daughters - whites and blacks - dont DO anything to prove your dogs, but go ahead and breed anyway.  {this is the collective general populace "you" - not anyone specific}.